MUKWONAGO - The words one concerned mother used to describe the presence of a convicted sex offender within the village left no doubt about her feelings.

"Heads up mamas! This incredibly vile scumbag will be roaming our streets as of today. Multiple violent offenses against children. Yet he is able to be without permanent address and to come and go as he pleases. ... Disgusting."

Nicole Grove of Mukwonago posted that Nov. 5 message on a local Facebook group page in response to a notification from the village of Mukwonago Police Department concerning Herbert O. Richard, 61, a convicted sex offender, who had recently been released from a secure mental facility.

The notification is a relatively routine procedure that's left up to the discretion of local law enforcement agencies who feel the release of such information "would enhance public safety, awareness and protection," according to the official bulletin issued Nov. 3.

Routine or not, it caught Grove by surprise.

"I have yet to ever see a sex offender bulletin for this area until today," she said. "It’s extremely concerning given the nature of his crime against children and women. He is a repeat offender who is said to likely offend again."

Spreading the word

Grove, who noted she regularly monitors the village police department's Facebook page, thought other people should be aware of Richard's potential presence in Mukwonago.

She decided to post the information on the Mukwonago Area Online Moms Group, a members-only Making our Mothering Significant Facebook group, which emphasizes morally responsible parenting and motherly advice in a social media environment.

"I was made aware because I follow the Mukwonago Police Department on Facebook. If not, I would not have known," she said.

The reaction has been notable, she said, as group members read and responded to the notification that she included with her post.

"The response is growing with time," Grove said. "No one can understand how a man like this can be released, let alone with the conditions that he is homeless and free to roam between East Troy and Mukwonago. We are appalled and want answers!"

Police Chief Kevin Schmidt acknowledged such sex offender notifications from the village are relatively rare — say, in comparison, to the city of Waukesha, where police issue similar notifications at least a half-dozen times annually.

"There hasn't been that many notifications," Schmidt said. "Just with (Richard's) past record, and the severity of these crimes, we thought it was necessary to let the people know."

Schmidt said he shares Grove's concerns, which is why his office decided the notification made sense.

"The (state) Department of Corrections has their hands tied, because the courts have ordered they have to release them even if they are homeless. And that's why we want to get the word out, because the more people watching this guy, the less chance of something happening. That's the object."

Not safe enough?

Grove acknowledged she wants local government agencies, including police, to do more, whether that would involve more advanced notifications or requiring a released sex offender to have a place to live, giving the community a surer sense of where he is.

The fear is palpable and reasonable, under the circumstances, she added.

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